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Process Piping for Industrial Facilities

2/28/2018 -

Most of us understand that many aspects of society still rely on oil and natural gas, but you may not realize the process of transporting them into and throughout a large facility. From chemical plants to food processing plants, most industrial facilities require professional process piping systems. These systems are used to transport materials, such as liquid and gas, however some systems are equipped to transport slurry and powders. Process piping is the safest way to transport these fluids and gases across manufacturing facilities.

Why is it Called Process Piping?

Don’t confuse process piping with pipelines! Pipelines are designed to transport gases and fluids long distances between separate facilities, however process piping systems are meant to carry these materials throughout one facility. Let’s break it down:

● Process - The “process” in a process piping system basically means that a series of activities are performed in a particular order to convert raw materials into a useful product. In this case, the “raw materials” are typically oil and natural gas.

● Piping - The “piping” is simply interconnected pipe systems that are used to both transport and convert raw materials into useful products.

When we put those two concepts together, we get “process piping.”

Process Piping Systems and Safety

All process piping systems are designed to accommodate different categories of fluid and gas services, from non-toxic to highly-toxic materials. Depending on the type of fluid or gas your system needs to accommodate, our professional engineers will design the process piping system to meet specified codes and regulations set by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).

● In the event of impact. Our process piping systems are designed to easily withstand pressure surges, water hammers, and other interior impact events. To do this, we install various pressure relief devices throughout the system.

● In the event of fire. With combustible liquids and gases that flow through piping systems, fires can pose a huge safety concern. Rest assured, every process piping system is designed to relieve or contain maximum pressure that heat from a fire can impose. In other words, they are designed to generally withstand extreme temperatures.

● In the event of settling. Thesoil and/or rock supporting the facility will settle over time, and if not designed properly, the integrity of the piping can become compromised because liquids typically don’t flow well in a sloped line. Our engineers work with the project’s geotechnical engineers to better design the system, both above and below ground, to ensure the system will always maintain proper flow.

Following the installation of the process piping system, the entire system will be tested and adjusted to ensure it runs optimally and that there is no excessive vibration. This step will also be repeated if any new modifications, replacements, or repairs are performed on the current system.

All aspects of our process piping services are designed to provide our customers with the best solutions for their buildings’ needs. Each of our engineers and designers have been specially trained in engineering design tools, such as CAD, to ensure the integrity of these systems. For more information about our process piping services, contact our experts today!